IRON MOUNTAIN — Felch, Norway, and Sagola townships will break ground this year on building and improving recreational facilities, funded in part by the Groveland Mine Solar Township Recreation Grant.

The grant program provided the townships with $25,000 each to enhance community spaces and outdoor recreational opportunities.

Administered by the Dickinson Area Community Foundation, the grants are part of Circle Power Renewables’ commitment to community benefits in conjunction with Groveland Mine Solar, a 100-megawatt alternating current solar facility being developed on former Groveland Mine property in Dickinson County, said Jordan Roberts, CEO of Circle Power.

“We’re proud to support these awesome projects,” Roberts said Wednesday in a news release. “During the local permitting process, we listened to residents at township meetings and heard how much they value outdoor time with family and friends. We believe renewable energy projects should benefit partner communities as a core value of our business and look forward to rolling out more benefits as we continue developing Groveland.”

“These projects align with our mission of enhancing quality of life in the region,” said Tamara Juul, executive director of the

Dickinson Area Community Foundation. “We appreciate Circle Power Renewables’ commitment to supporting local priorities and their collaborative approach to renewable energy development. These recreational facilities will serve families and individuals of all ages for years to come.”

The funded projects include:

— Norway Township: Construction of a new pavilion with handicap-accessible seating at the East Vulcan Recreation Area, replacing an aging basketball court. The township is supplementing the grant with additional improvements that will include new signage, flagpole replacement and security camera installation.

— Felch Township: Development of two pickleball courts and improvements to a sand volleyball court at Norway Lake Campground and park. The pickleball facility will replace a degraded tennis and basketball court that had been unused for years, responding to community requests for more outdoor activities for adults.

— Sagola Township: Several upgrades to improve the facilities at Channing Park. The Sagola Township board is working to finalize a plan and will start work this spring.

“This pavilion will provide much-needed accessible seating for our residents and create a welcoming gathering space for community events,” said Don Byczek, Norway Township supervisor. “The improvements at East Vulcan Recreation Area will benefit families in the township.”

Felch Township’s projects were identified through public input during its recreation planning process. “Both the pickleball and volleyball court projects have been on our township recreation plan for several years but lacked the funding to move forward,” said Felch Township Supervisor Bob Mattson. “Thanks to Circle Power and our volunteers, we’re creating recreational opportunities for residents of all ages.”

Ryan Mulder, Sagola Township supervisor, said, “Sagola Township is excited about making improvements to Channing Park this year. The Groveland grant will play a big role in helping to fund the work, which will make the park more enjoyable and accessible for Channing families. We look forward to sharing more details as the project comes together this spring.”